SIx candidates for two at-large seats on the City Council voiced their views on a variety of issues facing Longmont and found common ground in many areas.
There were some differing views on COVID restrictions and candidates also offered their takes on hot button issues, including train noise and fireworks.
The forum was put on by The League of Women Voters of Boulder County and Longmont Public Media, held at the Longmont Museum’s Stewart Auditorium, 400 Quail Road. Candidates responded to questions from an online audience.
A second forum is scheduled for tonight from 6 to 7:30 p.m. for mayoral candidates Gregory Harris, Joan Peck and Tim Waters.
The mayoral forum – as was the city council version – is open to the public and will be broadcast live on Longmont Public Media’s Comcast Channel 8, 14 and 16 as well as Longmont Public Media’s website.
Council candidates Diane Crist, Jeremy Dejuan Johnson, Sean McCoy, incumbent Aren Rodriguez, Tallis Salamatian and Shiquita Yarbrough agreed that affordable and attainable housing is key to maintaining and attracting a stable workforce. Reliable transportation will help families and businesses, said the candidates.
Incumbent Aren Rodriguez said Longmont should have both a regional train connection via the Regional Transportation District as well as an intercity transportation system
“We need to make sure we have a good public transportation system, not just the train (RTD) for Longmont, but very strong connections..maybe a supplemental system...so that we can make sure folks can get where they need to go,” Rodriguez.
Crist consistently emphasized a proposed high-speed tube system – called the hyperloop – that would connect various cities along the Front Range and eliminate congestion and help small businesses. “Our infrastructure is in the 19th Century but right now we need something to take us to the 21st and even the 22nd Century,” Crist said.
Johnson said entry level workers in Longmont “have nowhere to stay” because of the lack of affordable housing while Yarbrough said the city should concentrate on programs that will help people transition from rental housing to home ownership. “We all know that (home ownership) creates generational wealth,” Johnson said.
Salamatian said Longmont will always attract people looking for a good place to live. “But our city cannot withstand an unlimited amount of people moving into our community, we have to focus on people already in our community,” he said. “We have to concentrate on attainable housing for them.”
Several candidates favored creating smaller business districts and economic zones to help business owners take advantage of tax breaks. All the candidates supported the work done by Longmont Police.
As far as complaints about fireworks noise, candidates said this year was an anomaly as drought and COVID-19 restrictions shut down most city and county fireworks and prompted people to revert to neighborhood celebrations.
Rodriguez pointed out that the city is working to put in quiet zones through Longmont to help reduce train noise while McCoy said train noise is something that comes with living in Longmont.
All the candidates said they will believe voting tabulation for the Nov. 2 election will be fair.
As far as COVID restrictions, most believed in the mask mandates and vaccinations. McCoy, a public school teacher, said mask mandates and vaccinations are for the betterment of the community.
“This is a turning point in our generation and we have to do something serious about ending this COVID-19 and other variants,” McCoy said.
Crist and Johnson leaned more toward allowing individual businesses and people making choices for COVID-19 health.
“If you feel wearing a mask makes you feel protected you should do that,” Crist said. “Maintaining social distance and hygiene is just as important.”
